Wisconsin State Senator Melissa Ratcliff

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Wisconsin State Senator Melissa Ratcliff Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Wisconsin State Senator Melissa Ratcliff, Public & Government Service, Room 5 South State Capitol, Madison, WI.

Official Page for State Senator Melissa Ratcliff who serves the beautiful 16th District which includes Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Deerfield, Fitchburg, Fort Atkinson, Lake Mills, Marshall, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Waterloo, and areas in Madison & McFarland.

🔎 Fun Fact Friday: History Lives Here Series - Wrenches, Wheels & A PropellerDID YOU KNOW....Cambridge, Wisconsin has a...
10/23/2026

🔎 Fun Fact Friday: History Lives Here Series - Wrenches, Wheels & A Propeller

DID YOU KNOW....Cambridge, Wisconsin has a remarkable history of innovation and has been home to remarkable inventors, builders, and racing legends! The Wrenches, Wheels & A Propeller Exhibit at the Cambridge Historic School Foundation celebrates four individuals connected to Cambridge who made their mark in craftsmanship, transportation, and racing.

🛠️ David W. Scobie — A local blacksmith who opened his business in Cambridge in 1868. His Scobie Wagon Factory manufactured wagons, carriages, sleighs, and farm machinery. He even patented a flexible harrow!
🚤 Ole Evinrude — The Norwegian-born inventor known for developing a practical outboard motor that helped transform recreational boating.
🏍️ Arthur Davidson — One of the four founders of Harley-Davidson, the legendary motorcycle company established in 1903 (... he spent his summers in rural Cambridge with relatives as a boy).
🏁 Matt Kenseth — Cambridge native and NASCAR champion who won the 2003 Winston Cup championship and the Daytona 500 in 2009 and 2012.

From a local blacksmith’s workshop to the world of motorcycling, boating, and NASCAR, these stories showcase the ingenuity and talent connected to our community.
📍 Discover Cambridge’s history today! Visit the Cambridge Historic School Foundation and explore the people, inventions, and artifacts that help tell our local story.

🏡 FUN FACT FRIDAY: History Lives Here Series - Fort Atkinson’s Historic HomesDID YOU KNOW....that the historic Arthur R...
10/23/2026

🏡 FUN FACT FRIDAY: History Lives Here Series - Fort Atkinson’s Historic Homes

DID YOU KNOW....that the historic Arthur R. Hoard House in Fort Atkinson was originally built by local businessman George P. Marston between 1853 and 1865?
Located at 323 Merchants Avenue, this beautiful Victorian residence began as an Italianate-style home before Arthur R. Hoard, son of Wisconsin Governor William D. Hoard, purchased the property in 1893 and added distinctive Queen Anne features in 1898.

Arthur R. Hoard was a successful Wisconsin businessman known for his dairy enterprise, Hoard Creameries, and its GiltEdge butter. Today, the house stands as a reminder of Fort Atkinson’s rich business history, architectural beauty, and community heritage.

📍 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the house remains an important part of the community’s story.
Wisconsin’s history lives in the places we preserve and the stories we share! ❤️

🎶 FUN FACT FRIDAY: History Lives Here Series - A Touch of Musical History in Albion! 🎶DID YOU KNOW....you can step back...
10/23/2026

🎶 FUN FACT FRIDAY: History Lives Here Series - A Touch of Musical History in Albion! 🎶

DID YOU KNOW....you can step back in time and discover the beauty of the 1920 Edison Diamond Disc Player, Official Laboratory Model C-19, Chippendale Floor Model, located at the Albion Academy Historical Society!

✨ This elegant floor model combines the craftsmanship of the early 20th century with the magic of recorded music. Thomas Edison’s Diamond Disc phonographs used a unique reproducing system that helped distinguish them from other phonographs of the era.

🎵 Want to hear history come to life? Watch the video below to hear the music our docent played for us during our visit! It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience how this remarkable machine brought music into people’s homes more than a century ago.

🏛️ More than just a music player, this historic treasure reminds us of a time when families gathered around the phonograph to enjoy their favorite songs. Preserving artifacts like this helps keep our local stories, innovations, and traditions alive for future generations.

📍 Stop by today and discover more cool local history at the Albion Academy Historical Society!

I had the opportunity to learn more about the incredible work of Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) Wisconsin at its Verona Sho...
10/22/2026

I had the opportunity to learn more about the incredible work of Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) Wisconsin at its Verona Showcase at Verona Area High School!
IYT is making a meaningful difference by partnering with schools and communities to help young men of color build leadership skills, pursue their postsecondary goals, and envision bright futures for themselves.

One of the most powerful parts of this work is hearing directly from the young men themselves as they share their experiences, personal growth, and aspirations. Their stories remind us why investing in our young people and creating pathways to opportunity matter so much.

Strong partnerships between schools, community organizations, and local leaders can open doors, strengthen communities, and help ensure that every young person has the support and resources they need to succeed.

Thank you to Korbey White and the Improve Your Tomorrow Wisconsin team for the invitation and for your continued commitment to empowering young men across our state!

🇵🇱 Celebrating Polish American Heritage Month! 🇺🇸This month, I’m proud to celebrate the rich history, culture, tradition...
10/21/2026

🇵🇱 Celebrating Polish American Heritage Month! 🇺🇸

This month, I’m proud to celebrate the rich history, culture, traditions, and contributions of Polish Americans in Wisconsin and across our country.

As someone of Polish descent and a member of the Polish Heritage Club of Madison, this celebration holds a special place in my heart. Our Polish American communities have strengthened Wisconsin through generations of hard work, family, faith, service, and a deep commitment to community.

Polish heritage is woven into the fabric of our state from the traditions we pass down in our families to the businesses, organizations, churches, cultural clubs, and community celebrations that bring people together.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to honor those who came before us and to celebrate the next generation of Polish Americans who continue to carry this heritage forward.

Happy Polish American Heritage Month! 🇵🇱❤️🇺🇸


*Photo Credit: 235th Polish Constitution Day Celebration @ Capitol Rotunda

🏨 Supporting Wisconsin’s Tourism and Hospitality IndustryI enjoyed meeting with representatives from the Wisconsin Hotel...
10/20/2026

🏨 Supporting Wisconsin’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry

I enjoyed meeting with representatives from the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association to discuss the proposed legislation to establish Tourism Promotion Improvement Districts (TPIDs).

Tourism plays an important role in Wisconsin’s economy, supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and bringing visitors to communities across our state. Conversations like these give us an opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders, better understand how the proposed legislation could affect local communities and businesses, and discuss ways to support Wisconsin’s tourism and hospitality industry.

Thank you to the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association for taking the time to share your perspectives and engage in this important conversation!

💜October is Substance Use Prevention Month 💜Everyone deserves access to resources that can save lives. I’m encouraged to...
10/19/2026

💜October is Substance Use Prevention Month 💜

Everyone deserves access to resources that can save lives. I’m encouraged to see Dane County expanding access to naloxone and other harm reduction supplies with new vending machines in Sun Prairie and Stoughton!
📍 Sun Prairie: Sunshine Place, 18 Rickel Road
📍 Stoughton: Stoughton Health emergency department entrance, 900 Ridge Street

The machines provide naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, along with other harm reduction and personal care items. This expansion builds on the success of existing machines throughout Madison, which have helped distribute thousands of harm reduction supplies. The new machines were purchased with Dane County opioid settlement funds, demonstrating how these resources can be invested in community health and overdose prevention.

Do you already have a lifesaving kit and now what? There will be a free Overdose and Narcan Virtual Training for community members on October 20th from 6:00 - 7:00pm! Please register for the training at: https://stoughtonwellness.org/events/

Once registered you will receive an email with the zoom link.
Prevention saves lives, and access matters.

🎬 Wisconsin is ready for its close-up!Last year, Governor Evers and Legislative leaders created Film Wisconsin within th...
10/18/2026

🎬 Wisconsin is ready for its close-up!

Last year, Governor Evers and Legislative leaders created Film Wisconsin within the Department of Tourism and established $5 million in annual film tax credits.

I’m excited to see Film Wisconsin officially accredit its first six projects for the state’s new film tax credit program. These productions from feature films and documentaries to a short film, will create jobs, support local businesses, and showcase the incredible people and places that make Wisconsin special.

Film and television production is about more than entertainment. Productions bring immediate economic activity to the communities where they film, while also introducing new audiences to Wisconsin’s beautiful landscapes, vibrant communities, and unique stories.

With filming planned in communities across Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Richland Center, and northern Wisconsin - this first slate is an exciting milestone for our state’s growing creative economy.

Congratulations to Film Wisconsin and all of the talented filmmakers helping tell Wisconsin’s story. I look forward to seeing how this investment continues to support workers, businesses, tourism, and creativity across our state! 🎥🍿
* Photo Credit: Dept of Tourism - Film Wisconsin

🩺 Flu season is here — let’s protect ourselves and our communities!As we head into fall and winter, I want to encourage ...
10/17/2026

🩺 Flu season is here — let’s protect ourselves and our communities!

As we head into fall and winter, I want to encourage everyone in Senate District 16 to take a few minutes to talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting your annual flu shot.

Getting vaccinated can help reduce your risk of getting sick and help protect those around you — especially older adults, young children, pregnant people, and neighbors with health conditions that can make the flu more serious.

💉 Get your flu shot.
🧼 Wash your hands regularly.
🤧 Stay home when you’re sick.
❤️ Take care of yourself and your neighbors.
A little prevention can go a long way toward keeping our families, schools, workplaces, and communities healthy this flu season.

Stay healthy, Wisconsin! 💙

🏡 History Lives Here: The Vision Behind StoughtonDID YOU KNOW....that Stoughton, Wisconsin, began with one man’s vision ...
10/16/2026

🏡 History Lives Here: The Vision Behind Stoughton

DID YOU KNOW....that Stoughton, Wisconsin, began with one man’s vision for a thriving, self-sufficient community?

In 1838, Luke Stoughton and his wife, Eliza, moved from Vermont to Wisconsin, initially settling on a farm about seven miles north of Janesville. Luke later recognized the potential of a bend in the Catfish River, now known as the Yahara River, where waterpower could support a growing village.

On July 3, 1847, he purchased nearly 800 acres along the river for $2,100 and began bringing his vision to life. His first steps were to build a dam and sawmill, providing the lumber needed to construct homes and businesses.

Luke envisioned a community with everything residents needed to thrive, including a sawmill, store, inn, blacksmith and carpenter shops, a doctor, a school, and churches. His vision helped lay the foundation for the Stoughton we know today!

Today, the Stoughton Historical Society keeps this history alive through its exhibits, the Luke Stoughton House Museum, and its collection of historical records.

📚 History reminds us that today’s communities are built on the dreams, determination, and hard work of those who came before us.

Address

Room 5 South State Capitol
Madison, WI
53708

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+16082379146

Website

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